Basing his bill on legislation that requires sex offenders to register with the police, state Rep. Demetrius Atsalis wants people convicted of drug crimes to have their own registry.

In a statement, the Hyannis Democrat said the proposed law “will hopefully limit their ability to threaten their neighbors and to commit additional serious crimes.” Barnstable Police Sgt. Michael J. Clark, who worked with Atsalis on the legislation, was quoted as saying it “would go a long way in closing the now existing gap between those who commit serious drug crimes and their ability to move freely among us in our communities and neighborhoods.”

The law would target people convicted of possession with intent to distribute, distribution, trafficking, creation or distribution of counterfeit substances, and inducing a minor to distribute drugs.

“Fees collected by the [registry] would be dedicated to fund the statewide program to relive the Commonwealth of any financial burdens associated with the Registry,” Atsalis stated in the release.

The bill includes the familiar levels of the sex offender registry, with information on Level I registrants available only to law enforcement agencies, Level 2 data to members of the public who request it, and Level 3 given wide dissemination.

Perry: Commonwealth should take the 10th

State Rep. Jeff Perry has asked the Legislature to oppose federal mandates that he says are unconstitutional under the 10th Amendment.

The Sandwich Republican’s resolution declares that “the scope of power defined by the Tenth Amendment means the federal government was created by the states specifically to be limited in its powers relative to those of the various states…”